Expressão pública de sofrimento do luto e a rede social de apoio ao enlutado no contexto social Brasileiro

Abstract

This study was based on the observation that, historically, grief was a public, collective, and ritualized experience, but that, with the sociocultural transformations of the 20th and 21st centuries, it has become increasingly private and silent. The research was guided by the following question: how is the public expression of grief related to the bereaved's social support network? The general objective was to analyze this relationship in the contemporary Brazilian context. The specific objectives included examining the transformation of the public expression of grief throughout history, discussing how public rituals related to death act as a protective factor for the bereaved, analyzing the concept of a social support network, and investigating its impact on the grieving process.The qualitative research was conducted through a narrative literature review, based on national and international publications between 2010 and 2024. The results indicated that funeral rituals still play a relevant symbolic role in the process of mourning, even in an individualistic society. It was observed that a social support network—formed by family, community, and institutional ties—is fundamental in coping with grief, especially in cases of sudden or stigmatized losses. The lack of support and public spaces for expression can intensify suffering and hinder subjective reorganization. It is concluded that valuing the public expression of grief and strengthening support networks are fundamental strategies for overcoming grief and should be further discussed in Brazil.